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Tales, recipes, and general observations from the unique perspective
of a mother of two kids with an 18 year age gap, and "bonus mom" to an active middle schooler.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Put the lime in the coconut... (or don't)

My latest food passion is actually a beverage, and it is awesome! I purchased my first box of Vita Coco on a fluke. Sometimes, while I am on my lunch break, on days when it is not so nice outdoors, I wander through the nearby QFC. I walk up and down the isles looking for new and interesting products. I generally end up purchasing some kind of beverage. Our neighborhood QFC seems to have an unusually large variety of strange beverages. They have a whole isle of chilled goodness. On one rather dull afternoon my eyes found their way to a box of Vita Coco. For those of you not in the know, I am a coconut freak. I love all things related to coconuts. I love the taste and the smell equally. If I am handed a box of candy, I always look for the coconut flavor first. If I am purchasing shampoo I always go for the one with the strongest coconut scent. As a child I used to eat shredded coconut as a snack. I picked up the little juice box looking package and flipped it over to check out the label. It said it was only 60 calories. That is good, then I looked at the ingredients for the dreaded High Fructose that I try very hard not to drink. Under ingredients it reads: NATURAL COCONUT WATER.That is it. Period. Then I read the description on the side. The part that caught my eye reads:

This 100% pure life enhancing beverage has also been proven to increase vitality, ease digestion, cure hangovers, and literally save people's lives.

Damn, Gina! That is a lot of big talk for a little box of coconut juice. I cracked it open and took a big swig. First, it isn't really sweet. If you are going into it with the mind-set you are going to get that candied coconut flavor many of us have become accustomed to, you are not going to like it. But it has a strange addictive quality. By the time the juice box was empty I was still wanting more and feeling quite refreshed and hydrated. I went back and purchased every box that they had at the local market since it is the only place I've ever seen it. (Every box was only six boxes, BTW) And went on a search for more. I mentioned it to my co-worker who has been in the know about this product for some time and she gave me the hot tip that the best place to get it is at Whole Foods because it comes in much larger boxes and is more cost effective! So I had Jon run down and load up the cupboards and I have been drinking one every day since. It is my late afternoon treat that I find myself looking forward to. I don't know if it has "Saved my life" but it sure has improved the quality of my afternoons! And it's packaging is sure way more convenient than poking a hole in a coconut every time you want a drink! (I'm guessing it is probably cheaper as well.) I'd be curious if it actually cures hangovers. Since I don't really drink, I don't know. Any of my drinking friends want to give it a whirl and report back on how it goes? I could see the benefits of drinking it after a workout. I've done that and I do feel quite refreshed. It is GREAT over ice on a really hot day.

As I post this I am cracking open a box and raising it to you. Cheers!

9
comments:

I tried this once...it tastes like dirty water...I went out and tried other companies since coconut water is supposedly so good for you...I think O.N.E. is the best tasting, and it's a little cheaper on amazon, too.

Hey Sis, we got tons of that stuff here...comes in a little different packaging though. They are hanging from the trees everywhere, laying in my yard and they're free! A word of warning though be aware that drinking too much coconut water can have a laxative effect!

Since I went to a totolly raw foods diet I descovered the fresh young thai coconut. Yes, it is a lot more work than shoving a straw in a little box, but it is SO much better and SO good for you. Because it has not been pasteurized, all the nutrients are still intact. Because of all the electrolytes, if you drink it with wheat grass juice it is practically a blood transfusion. Crack the top of a young coconut (carefully that is) and you won't believe how much water is in there! And it is SUPER sweet...I tried the canned stuff a long time ago and this is a totally different experience...and with the soft meat inside you can puree it to the consistency of rice or cut it into long noodles and make delicious raw curries! Golly, now I must go get some. Coconut=natures miracle.

About Me

Mamachelle's Kicthen

Tales, recipes, and general observations from the unique perspective of a mother of two kids with an 18 year age gap, and step mother to an active middle schooler. In the world of parenting, pre and post the internet age, I've pretty much seen it all and don't mind sharing what I've learned.